PROSPECTUS
ACG Sunderland School Principal’s Welcome I am delighted that you are considering ACG Sunderland for your child’s education. It is a pleasure and a privilege for me to lead ACG Sunderland School as West Auckland’s only co-educational private school. We offer a caring and supportive atmosphere where boys and girls happily learn alongside each other with success. I invite your call to arrange a personal tour to see our thriving school in action. We look forward to meeting you. Kind regards
Kent J. Favel M.Ed Mgt, B.A., B.Ed, Dip Tchg Principal, ACG Sunderland School
At ACG Sunderland, we offer quality specialist facilities and teachers that instill in students the core principles of: · Academic excellence · Participation in co-curricular activities · High levels of standards and values We provide a safe, caring and dynamic learning environment where children experience a curriculum that engages them to explore, question, experience and discuss, as well as use technology with skill and success. There is a strong emphasis on the value of academic work while attitudes and values that are deemed important are also affirmed. Throughout these formative years emphasis will centre on children developing a love of learning, growing excellent work habits and developing enquiring minds. In keeping with our philosophies, emphasis is placed on providing a curriculum and learning environment that actively encourages students to reach their potential. If you are looking for a school that offers individual attention, wellqualified and motivated teachers in a family environment, we invite you to visit for a tour of our excellent facilities.
Performing Arts Primary students experience regular specialist music, drama and visual art teaching as part of their academic programme. Features of the Performing Arts Programme are: Junior and Senior Primary Choirs, a biannual Primary School production and our Arts Festival. A full and vibrant schedule of itinerant music and Speech and Drama exams is available.
Physical Education and Sport We offer the following sports: Winter: Soccer, Netball, Flippaball and Basketball. Summer: Athletics, Cricket, Touch Rugby and Tennis.
Curriculum The primary school curriculum at ACG Sunderland School is based upon the New Zealand Curriculum framework. It is an exciting programme where the goal of the School is to prepare students for their high school years and beyond. From 2011, the School will offer the University of Cambridge International Primary Programme (CIPP) in English, Mathematics and Science.
Lower School At age five, children enter the Lower School (Years 0-3), which aims to develop students’ talents and abilities in a caring, safe and stimulating classroom environment. Enquirybased programmes are offered to excite young minds, creating a foundation for successful learning. Literacy and numeracy form the basis of learning and careful monitoring of each individual student ensures a sound understanding of these key competencies. A combination of integrated studies and specialist programmes encompasses Social Sciences, the Performing Arts, Technology, Sciences and Health and Physical Education.
Upper School At around nine years of age, children enter the Upper School (Years 4 to 6), where they build on the base subjects combined with increasing use of specialist subject teachers and resources. Specialist classrooms are used, such as science laboratories, technology suites and performing arts rooms. The focus of the Upper School is to develop independent and confident learners with skills to research and problem-solve. Students in Year 6 are provided with leadership opportunities, such as sports and performing arts roles, House and class captains and a variety of student monitor positions in the School. The opportunity to move successfully from the School to the College, where students are wellknown by staff, ensures that academic, sporting and cultural strengths are developed and fostered at an early age. Individual learning needs are identified from the start and programmes put in place to provide the best possible learning environment for each child. ACG Sunderland provides an excellent base for future development. It is a stimulating and productive environment where the teamwork between teachers and students develops a positive work ethic and a love of learning.
ACG Sunderland College Principal’s Welcome It is my pleasure to welcome you to ACG Sunderland. We offer a supportive academic environment where each individual student is encouraged to reach their potential. As Principal, I am proud of the developments of the College since its inception in 2007. I do look forward to meeting with you and assisting in planning your child’s education at ACG Sunderland. Warm regards
Nathan Villars BSc, Grad. Dip. Tchg. Principal, ACG Sunderland College ACG Sunderland College consists of the Lower College, Years 7 to 10, and the Upper College, Years 11 to 13, with a seamless transition of learning due to the nature of our specialisation. Our staff recognises that students of each academic Year level have distinct development needs and our teaching programmes reflect these requirements. Students are taught by highly qualified and experienced teachers who are specialists in their curriculum field. Our core focus is teaching and learning. At the same time, we recognise that it is important for students to have a balanced and holistic experience while at ACG Sunderland. Sports, culture, music and leadership opportunities are co-curricular activities which all our students are encouraged to participate in. Pastoral Care is based around the form class. In Year 7, the form is in horizontal classes for this care; in the rest of the College, students are grouped in vertical classes with a mix of Year groups to enhance the supportive environment.
Lower College Enthusiastic and highly skilled teachers ensure that students continue to build on their previous achievements. A broad-based and challenging academic curriculum is offered in Years 7 to 10, alongside co-curricular activities to enhance skills. English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Health and Physical Education, Music, Art, Spanish and Technology are all core subjects up to Year 10. The Lower College builds upon the Thinking Maps and Habits of Mind strategies introduced in the Primary School. The Lower College offers the New Zealand Curriculum Framework and the University of Cambridge Lower Secondary programme to prepare students for the internationally recognized University of Cambridge Examinations in the Upper College.
Upper College Students in Years 11 to 13 are encouraged to study subjects that best suit their interests, abilities and future aspirations. Individual guidance is given for subject selection throughout the College. The teaching method ensures individual attention from teachers while close monitoring of performance promotes academic achievement. All students are challenged to set goals for themselves. Senior students are encouraged to take an active role in House and school leadership opportunities, while sport and cultural groups provide a sense of service to the School. Peer mentoring, coaching and managing juniors as well as sports teams, tutoring, and House responsibilities all contribute to building confidence and independence in our senior students.
Performing Arts ACG Sunderland provides an outstanding performing arts curriculum, which is designed to bring out the best in students’ musical and dramatic abilities while giving all students the opportunity to shine. We have numerous music groups and hold an annual College production where all students are encouraged to be involved.
Sport Our students play regular inter-school fixtures with other schools from Auckland, from around the North Island and in the “College Sport” weekly fixtures. We offer the following sports: Winter: Soccer, Cycling, Cheerleading, Netball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Orienteering, Indoor Cricket, Cross Country & Basketball. Summer: Touch Rugby, Athletics, Cricket, Tennis & Rowing.
Curriculum ACG Sunderland offers the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in Years 11 to 13. CIE is the world’s largest provider of international qualifications for 14-19 year olds. CIE is part of Cambridge Assessment which is a department of the world renowned University of Cambridge. Cambridge Assessment has developed and promoted qualifications around the world for 150 years and has a network of over 6,000 schools in 150 different countries delivering CIE courses. By offering Cambridge qualifications, ACG Sunderland joins the leading network of Cambridge centres worldwide and demonstrates its commitment to the highest educational standards. Qualifications can be entered at three levels: • International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) • Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS Level) • Advanced Level (A Level) The IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is taught in Year 11. Students are encouraged to study six or seven subjects across a range of disciplines. In Year 12, most students study AS subjects while A Levels are offered at Year 13. The International A Level, is the ‘gold standard’ of CIE qualifications. It has the same value in admitting students to universities as its UK equivalent. It is also accepted as an entry qualification by universities of the European Union, on a par with the French Baccalaureate and the German Abitur. ACG Sunderland Year 13 students are able to take flexible combinations of AS Levels, A Levels or a mixture of both as suits their career goals and learning needs.
Introducing ACG Sunderland ACG Sunderland is a member of the Academic Colleges Group (ACG) – a leading independent provider of kindergartens, schools and preuniversity courses. Our desire to cater for the needs of the individual have seen us develop a range of schools for young people and their families who put their trust in us to provide a world-class education. ACG’s ten Schools and Colleges in New Zealand, Vietnam and Indonesia have been developed to offer the best educational pathways that lead to respected universities around the world. ACG is also part of a worldwide network of schools that are connected to the University of Cambridge and the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) through curriculum and assessment programmes.
Our Facilities ACG Sunderland is set on nine acres of landscaped grounds in a quiet street, a short walk from Lincoln Road, West Auckland. There are separate playgrounds for school and college students. The School has been developed from an architecturally designed building and it is solidly built of brick, set among mature trees and landscaped gardens.
Sporting Facilities ACG Sunderland works closely with Waitakere City Council and the Trusts Stadium to ensure access to the superb sporting facilities which are right on our doorstep. These include extensive netball and tennis courts, a swimming complex, playing fields, athletics tracks and the magnificent Trusts Stadium. ACG Sunderland offers a diverse range of sporting opportunities to its students.
Academic Facilities ACG Sunderland boasts computer suites with class sets of computers for both the School and College. The suites are equipped with SMART Boards. Many classrooms have built in data projectors. Both the School and College use fully equipped Science laboratories and a Technology suite.
There is a Spanish teaching room and wellequipped rooms for learning support and ESOL.
Arts Facilities ACG Sunderland is well equipped for the Arts with specialist music rooms, a band practice room, a drama room and a 250-seat auditorium.
Our History The ACG Sunderland campus was originally proposed to be built on a ‘green fields’ site at Whenuapai. Work began in 2001, yet despite strong support from Waitakere City Council, resource consent was opposed by Auckland Regional Council. The project stalled at the Environment Court and efforts on that site were abandoned. Publicity about Sunderland had generated keen interest, confirming the need for a quality private school in West Auckland. When the Waitakere City Council complex in Waipareira Avenue became available in June 2006, the Sunderland Education Trust identified it as an ideal school site. They moved rapidly to secure the property. Sunderland enrolled its first students for the start of the 2007 school year. Student numbers have grown steadily ever since. The name Sunderland is derived from the Sunderland flying boats which were based at Hobsonville and which are an integral part of the history of the district. The School became a member of ACG in 2010. Our efforts to cater for the needs of the individual have seen us develop a range of schools for those originating from within New Zealand and overseas; young people and their families who have put their trust in us to provide them with a first-class education. People who seek to achieve, who relish challenges and who are committed to being the best they possibly can be deserve the very best we can offer.
We look forward to welcoming you to ACG Sunderland.
Bright Minds, Bright Future ACG Sunderland is proud to offer the University of Cambridge International Examinations In 2009, ACG Sunderland’s first group of Year 11 students received very pleasing results in the University of Cambridge International Examinations. Key features of CIE: • Portability: CIE qualifications are accepted and recognized by universities, education providers & employers worldwide • International Benchmarking: International qualifications that benchmark students’ results against the best in the world • Flexibility: Students may choose the level of their study to suit their ability • Rigour: Demanding courses that stretch all students For more information, please visit www.cie.org.uk
Quality Private Education in West Auckland
Website www.acgedu.com 6 Waipareira Avenue, Henderson, Waitakere City 0610, New Zealand PHONE +64 9 838 7070. FAX +64 9 838 7040. EMAIL sunderland@acgedu.com